[The diagnostic value of anti-HCV test in HCV infection]

Two hundred and ninety-six samples of patient serum and 28 samples of donor serum were tested for anti-HCV with second generation domestic made testing kit, and for HCV RNA with PCR assay. The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of anti-HCV test in HCV infection and to discuss its value in screening of donors. The results were as follows HCV RNA was detected in 81.6% of the anti-HCV positive patient samples and in 21.7% of the anti-HCV negative patient samples. HCV RNA was not detected in 28 anti-HCV negative donors. These results reveals that positive anti-HCV is of high diagnostic value in HCV infection. Anti-HCV negative could not exclude HCV infection for samples suspected of HCV infection. However, screening donors with anti-HCV probably decreases HCV RNA positive rate considerably.